Last year our landlord installed a new fence in our backyard. With that, she tore up a series of bushes leaving a huge area of open dirt. Recently when Jack and I were playing in the backyard I had the wild idea of planting a garden in this new found open space. It is a “wild” idea because I am lucky if I can keep our sprouts alive on the kitchen counter. Despite my history of no green thumb, I felt this intense desire and excitement to make the garden happen. I consulted with Jacob and he agrees it is a great use of the space. He has A TON of experience gardening so he will be the supervisor and I will be the nurturer. Motherhood has offered me the opportunity to truly explore my nurturing side and I am looking forward to applying my nurturing skills to our 2013 garden. To have a successful garden I need to plan, learn new things, and commit to a daily practice. Of course the first step is the soil. This is the foundation for the “health” of the garden. As I think about our garden I find so many parallels with our health and well being. Our health has so much to do with our “soil”, our internal milieu. The lifestyle choices we make daily either support or weaken our body’s ability to be healthy. Let’s look at some examples where the parallels exist between building a healthy garden and a healthy body.
Water
If a plant looks unhealthy what is one of the first things we think to do to rejuvenate it? Give it water or give it sunlight. Water and vitamin D are two key ingredients to a healthy body. Our body is about 70-80% water. To give our bodies the hydration it needs one should consume at least ½ of your body weight in ounces of water daily. So if you weigh 140 lbs, it is recommended you drink 70 oz of water each day. So next time 3:00 p.m. rolls around and you are feeling a little “wilted” try drinking 8 ounces of water instead of a cup of coffee or eating a candy bar. See how your body feels. Notice if you begin to bloom with the additional water.
Vitamin D
There are many health benefits to vitamin D. Some of these include strong bones, strong immune system, reduced body tension, and increased cardiovascular health. Vitamin D from the sun is best. However if you would prefer a supplement over the sun, there are plenty of good supplements. Jacob and I supplement with Innate Choice Vitamin D.
Managing and Getting Rid of the Weeds
When I think of managing the weeds of my backyard garden I automatically relate this to our mental state of being. Negative thoughts are like the weeds in a garden. They can take over and control your head space before you know it. Positive thoughts, affirmations, and surrounding yourself with positive supportive people are great ways to weed the negative thoughts that creep into your head.
Commit to a daily practice
I cannot just plant my garden and expect it to produce for me. I need to pay attention to it daily. The same is true of our health. I can’t expect to have my body perform optimally if I don’t have a commitment to a daily practice which includes eating well, moving, and positive thoughts.
As you have your hands in your garden this year, think about the ways in which your garden mirrors your health. As you nurture your garden, make the commitment to do something to nurture yourself as well.
